"If there is an app for that"

Shadow Bug

April 05, 2016 by macjeff

Shadow Bug ($3.99) by Muro Studios Ltd. is a gorgeous new action platformer game that will pull you in from the start. If you enjoy dark and mysterious environments in your puzzle games, similar to that of Limbo, Red Game Without A Great Name, and the follow up Green Game TimeSwapper, then you’re going to love Shadow Bug, despite the fact that it differentiates itself a bit from the rest thanks to more action.

Ever since Limbo hit various platforms everywhere, the rise of the dark and gloomy silhouette-heavy games has steadily grown, and I’m not sure if we’ve reached the peak yet, but I don’t mind. I’m a fan of this unique art style, as I found that the games that fall in this category are rather immersive, creepy, and just fun. When I heard of Shadow Bug, I was intrigued by the art style, and it looked to pack in a lot of action while being a bit “artsy,” so to speak. Now that it is finally on the App Store, I am not disappointed.

Visually, Shadow Bug is stunningly beautiful. While it takes pages from those silhouette-heavy titles, the game stands out due to the hand drawn environments that you see in the backgrounds, which even have a parallax effect. The game’s art looks exquisite and there’s plenty of detail, so it’s obvious that the developers put a lot of care into the game. The colors are also beautiful, as they range from soft pastels to bold, vibrant hues to dingy grays and inky blacks. And while the main character and all of the enemies that stand in your way appear as nothing more than various black blobs of some kind, their forms span from simple to intricate and complex, especially the flying enemies. Animations in the game are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. The soundtrack has an oriental tone to it as well, which is fitting, and the sound effects are a nice finishing touch to the game’s visual and audio package. In all honesty, Shadow Bug is one of the most alluring games that has graced my device lately.

Shadow Bug provides players with several different chapters that have about eight levels each, including a boss fight. In Shadow Bug, players take control of an overpowered ninja hero named Shadow Bug. A evil factory nearby has caused terrible creatures invading his home forest and it’s up to him to take it back by slicing these creatures into pieces. In each stage, you’ll have to slice-and-dice your way through the foes while reaching the gate at the end — sometimes it’s rather straightforward and other times a little thinking is required (the puzzle element comes into play). But either way, you’re going to have to be quick on your toes to survive, due to the incredibly simple control scheme.

The greatest thing about Shadow Bug is the fact that you only need one hand to play the game. To have Shadow Bug move left or right, just tap-and-hold on the appropriate half of the screen. When an enemy appears, just tap on it to attack — Shadow Bug instantly warps over to the target, so that’s how you get through otherwise impossible obstacles and make your way to the gate. With this in mind, you have to time your attacks carefully, as sometimes you’ll have to perform a series of attacks in order to reach the next available platform, otherwise you’ll face a grueling death on spikes or some other hazard. While you’re in the air, you can still long press on the left or right side of the screen to “fall” in that direction, but just watch out for dangers.

Once you reach the end gate, you’ll be awarded up to three shurikens (instead of stars, because you know, ninja) for level completion, finishing within the time limit, and getting all of the glowing white orbs that are floating around (and that drop from fallen foes). If you are a perfectionist, then the game does have some replay value because you’ll want to go back and try levels again until you master them. There is also Game Center integration for leaderboards and achievements, which increases the longevity of the game (as long as Game Center works for you to begin with). And if you like to share your game moments, Shadow Bug has full screen recording capabilities that were added recently in iOS.

Even though I’m still early on in the game, I’ve been enjoying Shadow Bug a lot since I downloaded it yesterday. The graphics are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen in a game lately, and the parallax effect with the backgrounds is subtle but immersive. The music is fantastic to listen to, especially when you put on your good headphones. Controls are simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, but like any good game, it’s difficult to master and it’s rather rewarding when you do. I’m not sure how many levels there are right now, but due to the collectible orbs and time limits to beat, there is plenty of reason to go back and replay stages. This is a new favorite of mine for the week, at least for the time being (I know there are some good titles coming out this Thursday).

I highly recommend checking out Shadow Bug if you’re a fan of action-packed puzzle platformers. You can get Shadow Bug on the App Store as a universal download for just $3.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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Green Game TimeSwapper

April 04, 2016 by macjeff

Green Game TimeSwapper ($2.99) by iFun4all is the continuation of the cult classic, Red Game Without A Great Name. If you enjoy a challenging puzzle game that will make you think hard, then you’re going to love what Green Game TimeSwapper brings to the table (it also doesn’t hurt to check out the original that started it all).

Even though I love to game in my spare time on the dedicated consoles and handhelds that I’ve bought in the past, I spend much more time playing games on my iPhone 6s Plus lately. It’s just way more convenient for me when I am on-the-go, and hey, I get a huge variety of puzzles to choose from, which happen to be one of my favorite genres. I did play the original Red Game Without A Great Name last year, but I did not beat it quite yet. However, while you may get the most out of Green Game TimeSwapper if you finished Red Game Without A Great Name, it is not crucial to enjoying TimeSwapper, as it is fine as a standalone game too (plus there are hints for a third game as well, so stay tuned).

Visually, Green Game TimeSwapper has the same kind of unique art style that was found in the original game. The world is completely done in a two-tone fashion: the black silhouettes for the level layout, including obstacles, as well as the mechanical bird that you’ll be controlling. The background sports a lot of green and shadows of clock gears, which represents the ability of changing time in this game. A green spotlight on the screen indicates the time frame that you’re currently in, and it serves as a crucial element to getting through the game successfully. Animations in Green Game TimeSwapper are fairly smooth and fluid, though it does feel a bit abrupt once your bird changes flight direction due to steam or some other objects, but it’s not a big deal. The jazzy soundtrack is rather upbeat and quirky as well, adding to the overall charm of the title. If you enjoyed the visual and audio package of Red Game Without A Great Name, then Green Game TimeSwapper will make you feel right at home. Even if you’ve not played the first game, this one is still enjoyable in both the graphics and audio.

As with other puzzle games, Green Game TimeSwapper features five different chapters that contain 10 levels each, with a total of 50 stages to manipulate time and fly through. In Green Game TimeSwapper, the mechanical bird that gained knowledge of the red steampunk world in Red Game Without A Great Name has been intercepted and modified by the chief scientist in the mechanical green world. The mechanical bird hero will gain new powers over the course of the game, which will be incredibly handy as new obstacles and challenges pop up. The objective of each stage will be to guide the bird across a series of obstacles while collecting all three of the gear pieces, and getting to the clear box that is somewhere on the level. Each puzzle can have multiple solutions, since you can even complete it by just picking up one gear, but the optimal solution involves getting all of them. Dying is common in this game (as with the original), and you’ll have to plan your route carefully to succeed.

The control scheme in Green Game TimeSwapper are simple. Just swipe horizontally to get the mechanical bird to fly forward. Then, as you approach objects like steam generators, you’ll notice a bright green clock hand on it. These objects, along with traps, can be enabled or disabled by manipulating time, which is done by swiping horizontally along the screen as your bird is flying. When the green spotlight matches up with an object, it will be activated, and the steam changes your flight direction. Even though the controls are rather easy and intuitive, the real challenge of the game is knowing when to activate a generator and disabling traps. Timing and reflexes are everything in this game, because when you hit a wall or get caught in a trap, it means doom for your mechanical bird friend, and you have to restart. All deaths are recorded as well, in case you ever want to know how many times you’ve failed before succeeding in this rather unforgiving game.

While the first few levels may seem simple enough, things do get much more complicated as you make progress in the game. Additionally, there will be power-ups that you can gather that grant you things like immortality, slow flight, and more. Whenever you see a power-up item, make sure to make an attempt to get to it, because they can really help you out.

Just like with Red Game Without A Great Name, iFun4all has succeeded in creating a unique but rather eerie game world that proves to be challenging for gamers of all skill levels. Even though I did not complete Red Game Without A Great Name, I found Green Game TimeSwapper to be an enjoyable gaming experience, even though dying can be pretty frustrating. The visuals and music are stunning, and the control scheme is straightforward but still challenging to master, since the levels do get much more complicated as you go. Even though it’s a rather unforgiving game, I still think that Green Game TimeSwapper is a must for anyone who likes a good puzzle game.

I recommend giving Green Game TimeSwapper a try if you like puzzles, enjoyed Red Game Without A Great Name, or just want something challenging to play this week. You can find Green Game TimeSwapper on the App Store as a universal download for just $2.99. Red Game Without A Great Name is also on the App Store as a universal download for $2.99.

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Good Knight Story

April 01, 2016 by macjeff

Good Knight Story (Free) by Turbo Chilli Pty Ltd is a humorous match-three RPG game that packs in a challenge among plenty of parodies and references. If you enjoyed games like You Must Build A Boat and Hero Emblems, then you are going to love what Good Knight Story brings to the table.

Even though I do a decent amount of gaming on my consoles at home and on-the-go, I still turn to my iPhone 6s Plus for a large chunk of my total game time. That’s because the thing is always with me, no matter where I am, and there are plenty of games that I can pick up and play for a few minutes at a time. Plus, my favorite genres these days are puzzles and RPGs, and there are a handful of them to choose from on iOS. Even though I’ve gone through what I think is a good chunk of them already, I can’t help but notice when a new one hits the App Store, and that’s just what happened this week with Good Knight Story.

In terms of visuals, Good Knight Story carries a somewhat goofy but cartoonish aesthetic that will definitely appeal to most people. Despite that, I found that the game packs in a lot of detail when it comes to the various environments, characters and enemy monsters, and even items like treasure chests and gear. The colors also range from the bright and lush outdoors to dark and dingy dungeons, and there are cool effects in the background as you get a long chain of matches. Animations in Good Knight Story are incredibly smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. The game also has a quirky, folk-like soundtrack and realistic sound effects that make you truly feel like you’re in battle. I must say, the whole visuals and audio package that this game gives you is pretty immersive, which is always a good thing.

Like other games of this kind, there is a world map and you’ll have to make your way through the game one stage at a time. But to spice things up, there is an actual story behind everything, which gets uncovered as you progress. It starts off with some knights in a pub having a good time, and then things go dark. When your knight wakes up, he finds himself in a dungeon and must battle his way through to get back to the outside world. It’s an interesting little plot, and the one-liners, parodies, and references that are sprinkled throughout keep everything engaging, as you’ll just want to find out what happens next, or what else they’ll refer to in this world. The stages also have three stars that you can earn, which is dependent on your score by the end of the level. A different objective awaits you for each stage, such as just killing the monsters or gathering up all of the keys or meat, so things are kept fresh and interesting. The faster you complete it, the more stars and points you’ll earn. Coins are also awarded at the end of each successful level, and the game is fairly generous with them, so it’s not hard to save up a bit to get much-needed weapon and power-up upgrades.

The best part about Good Knight Story is the matching system. Instead of having to swap adjacent pieces or moving tiles around for matches, all you have to do is draw a line that connects the gems together. The line can go horizontally, vertically, and even diagonally, so the possibilities for matches are far and wide compared to some other games out there. For a match to count, it has to include at least three pieces, but if you get a chain of at least six or more, the background at the top changes to indicate a stronger attack. And if you create even longer connections, then you create a special bomb piece that will destroy all tiles in a “+” shape on the grid.

With Good Knight Story, there are several different types of tiles on the screen: fire, ice, lighting, and poison. There are also shields and hearts, which mean allowing your knight to defend and heal himself, respectively. With the elemental pieces, those will allow your knight to attack foes, but be careful — there is a rock-paper-scissors mechanic here, where an element is strong against one but weak to another. For your reference, a diagram can be found in the upper left corner, so you should always have the advantage in battle, as long as the right pieces are laid out for you.

As mentioned, there are shields and hearts that will come in handy. This is because each monster has a turn counter on them, and when the number reaches zero, that means that they are able to attack you after you make your move. It’s important to note that because if you can match up at least three shields right before the enemy attacks, you can negate most, if not all, of the damage from the hit. The amount of damage that you block depends on your knight’s defense stat.

There are light elements of RPG besides the battling part, which is nice. At the end of each level, you’ll find a treasure chest that you can break open with an attack. It will grant you things like weapons, or even stat upgrades. Experience points are also earned after battle, and you have the option of upgrading one stat each time you level up. The stats can also change depending on the weapon you choose to wield, so choose wisely.

Even though the game is fairly generous when it comes to those shiny gold coins, it’s important to not spend your stash so frivolously. That’s because you’ll unlock better weapons as you go, and these can get a bit pricey. Plus, there are upgrades for each of them so you can further maximize their effectiveness. Plus, there are power-up items to unlock as well, and it costs a bit of change to purchase one and equip it in battle. However, the power-ups can be helpful to get you out of a pinch, since they can do things like attack all enemies at once (good for multiple enemies at once) or shield you from all attacks for three turns.

Good Knight Story is a free-to-play game, but I’m rather surprised by it. The game does not have an energy timer, so you can play it as long as you want for each session without having to wait for your lives to recharge. There are also no intrusive ads that interrupt you between stages, which I love. In fact, while there are video ads, they are completely optional if you just want to double your coins after successful levels. There is also a free gift of coins that you can redeem every couple of hours, so honestly, gold coins should not be too much of an issue in the game. But if you are super impatient, you can buy more through in-app purchases.

I’ve been playing Good Knight Story a bit this morning for this review, and I’m finding it pretty hard to put down. I love the style of the game’s graphics, the music is fun, and the plot is hilarious with the corny jokes and one-liners. The controls are simple enough to get used to, and the game mechanic is not too hard to get used to so it is great for everyone. The difficulty level does get ramped up a bit as you go, since there will be beefier monsters who are out for your blood, but the challenge is not too frustrating, and you don’t have to worry about timers if you lose. This is definitely a game that I would have gladly paid a few dollars for, so I’m honestly shocked that it’s free and generous. It’s a nice surprise this week, that’s for sure.

I highly recommend checking out Good Knight Story if you like action-packed match-three RPGs and enjoy a side of humorous storyline to go with it. You can find Good Knight Story on the App Store as a universal download for free. There are optional in-app purchases.

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Flipped Out – The Powerpuff Girls Match 3 Puzzle / Fighting Action Game

March 31, 2016 by macjeff

Flipped Out – The Powerpuff Girls Match 3 Puzzle / Fighting Action Game ($2.99) by Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is a new hybrid title that has launched in anticipation of the Powerpuff Girls reboot next week. If you were a fan of the Powerpuff Girls, or just enjoy match-three strategy puzzle games or good old-fashioned brawlers, then Flipped Out is worth checking out.

Around the time I was in middle school, I liked to stay up late watching cartoons on Cartoon Network. One of those cartoons that I ended up watching often was Powerpuff Girls, and I grew to become a big fan of the series. I watched most of the episodes that aired on the channel, and I even saw the movie at some point. Needless to say, Powerpuff Girls was definitely a cartoon that set some standards in terms of storytelling and art style, at least for me (and I’m sure many others agree). When I first heard about the reboot of the Powerpuff Girls, I groaned with displeasure, because it seems that everything that ended well is getting a reboot. However, I am willing to give it a chance after I saw the extended introduction of the new series, because I appreciate the modernized theme song and art style. With the reboot launch just a week away now, it seems the hype is building up more than ever before, and that’s why we have Flipped Out. After spending some time with the game, I must say that it is definitely an interesting mashup that is worth checking out, as there is nothing quite like it on the App Store.

Visually, Flipped Out is stunningly beautiful, especially if you’re a fan of the franchise. It retains the cartoonish art style that the Powerpuff Girls are known for, though it seems that this game goes with the more streamlined and modern art style, rather than the classic version, which makes sense given the reboot next week. The colors in the game are bright and vivid, which you’d expect from anything Powerpuff Girls releated. While the typeface for text is rather cartoony, it’s not hard to read at all and just adds extra charm to the title. Animations are smooth and fluid, and the soundtrack pulls you in to the Powerpuff Girls world and Townsville. Sound effects are a fun final touch to the overall visual and audio package.

There are four different chapters in Flipped Out at the moment, with each of them having nine main levels, a boss battle, and three additional bonus stages that can be unlocked when you get a certain number of A+ grades once you complete a level. The chapters are spread out across different sectors of Townsville, so you’ll be visiting some familiar places. The main objective is to clear the stage of as many enemy monsters as you can, or defeat the boss, before the Powerpuff Girls are defeated. Your score depends on how many foes you’ve managed to get rid of, and collecting the pickles for the mayor is beneficial, as you’ll earn sticker upgrades for the girls, which grant you some awesome super powers to make battle easier.

In Flipped Out, there are two “modes” that you can seamlessly switch to while on a level: Sugar (strategic puzzle) and Spice (action-packed brawler). While it does sound confusing at first, the tutorial in the beginning stages will walk you through the two modes, and it’s also good to flip strategically (portrait for Sugar, landscape for Spice) to defeat certain enemies and bosses.

For Sugar Mode, monsters will pop up on the screen after each turn, which constitutes a move you make. The monsters are also able to attack or move after you make a move, so you have to plan out your attack carefully. The girls will appear scattered on the grid in Sugar Mode, and you must have the girls make matches of like-colored monsters to clear them out. To do this, select one of the girls that you want to move, then swipe them in the direction you want them to go. When they bump into a monster, you can then have the girl throw them to another girl, or at a cluster of like-colored monsters to make a match of at least three or more. If you match at least four, there will be a bonus laser explosion once that group clears out, in which case it will trigger other groups that are caught in the blast. Depending on where you have positioned the girls, you can get creative and set off some epic chain reactions.

In Spice Mode, the girls will appear on the streets of Townsville, and you tap to select the girl you want and then swipe them to where you want to go. When they run into an enemy, attacking happens automatically, and you can also send in at least two girls on one target to beat them quicker. All of the action of this mode happens in real-time, so you don’t have the time to plan out your attacks — you have to be fast with your reflexes here.

In both modes, though, enemies will drop pickle chips after they’re defeated. In Sugar mode, all you have to do to collect them is have a girl move over them and the chips are yours. In Spice mode, you just tap on them to pick them up. The pickle chips are important, since you get a gift box with a sticker prize inside each time the gauge is full.

The stickers serve as powerful upgrades for our young heroines. You can equip stickers on each girl for a different loadout, and the sticker effects can vary depending on whether you’re in Sugar or Spice mode. When you want to use an ability, just select the girl you want, and then tap on the ability button in the top right corner. But be careful — each ability can only be used a certain number of times in a stage, so make sure to use them wisely.

While the goal of each stage is pretty simple with just racking up points with matches or defeating your foes in battle, watch out for the hits that may sneak in if you aren’t careful. You lose a heart on each girl if they take damage, and if they are down for the count, you may have to flip to the other mode to wake them up. But if all of them go down, then you’ve failed and must try again.

Personally, Flipped Out was a pleasant surprise for me this week, and it’s rather enjoyable, which is nice since I also liked the other Powerpuff Girls game, Defenders of Townsville. The graphics in Flipped Out are wonderful, the music and sounds are fun, and the controls are simple enough, though I think they could be better optimized for accuracy (sometimes I messed up a move because I was slightly off). The strategic match-three and action brawler modes work well for what it’s worth, and it’s definitely an interesting combination that you just don’t see anywhere else on the App Store.

I recommend giving Powerpuff Girls: Flipped Out a try if you’re a fan of the franchise, enjoy innovative new games, or just like a challenging match-three or brawler game. You can find Flipped Out as a universal download on the App Store for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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Drop Flip

March 31, 2016 by macjeff

Drop Flip ($2.99) by BorderLeap, LLC is a physics-based puzzle game that is simple yet full of charm. If you enjoyed other games of this nature, such as Trick Shot, then you will love what Drop Flip has to bring to the table.

Even though I love console and computer games, I have to admit that most of my gaming these days is done on my iPhone 6s Plus. I mean yes, I bought a 3DS for on-the-go gaming, but it is also another handheld that I have to carry around with me, and lately, I just don’t feel like carrying more than I have to. That’s why I prefer enjoying mobile gaming on my iPhone — it’s always with me and I don’t have to think about it. However, the iPhone is not my preferred platform of choice when it comes to lengthier games, so that’s why I get a kick out of small puzzle games and other bite-size titles. As a fan of physics-based puzzle games, I was excited when news of Drop Flip hit my inbox, since I’m a fan of BorderLeap’s other games, which includes Alpha Omega, the har•mo•ny series, and more. Needless to say, BorderLeap does not disappoint yet again.

The graphics in Drop Flip are incredibly simple and clean, which will appeal to any fans of minimalistic art styles out there. The game features bright, solid colors in the background, which is also sports a subtle texture to it, like a canvas of sorts. The puzzles themselves consist of white objects that are essentially just basic geometric shapes like circles, triangles, squares, lines, and more. Due to the white objects being on top of a vividly colored backdrop, the contrast is nice and makes it easy to tell everything apart. The added shadow effect is a nice hint that lets you know how far an object can be moved around. Animations in Drop Flip are smooth and fluid, with no lag on my iPhone 6s Plus. And to top things off, the soundtrack is rather soothing, and the sound effects are whimsical.

At the moment, Drop Flip has 100 levels that you will have to go through in a linear fashion. The game does not split them up into chapters or worlds or any of that nonsense, so it’s just one long chapter, so to speak. There are also no stars to earn or points to rack up — it’s just about solving the puzzle and moving on to the next one. The main goal is as simple as they come: get the ball into the bucket. Of course, since the game is physics-based, it’s not as easy as it sounds, but everything can be solved through experimentation and trial-and-error. As you get further along, though, the puzzles do get more complex and tricky, so you’ll need to muster up all the power in your thinking cap to solve them.

The controls in Drop Flip are straightforward and intuitive. In each stage, the ball is sitting on top of a small gate. The bucket is somewhere on the screen, and there will be obstacles that stand between your ball and the bucket. To open the gate, just quickly tap on the ball and watch it fall. However, you can do some things with the obstacle objects as well, such as move them out of the way (or in a better position to help you out) and flip them. To flip an object, just firmly press it and it will magically flip around for you. To move objects (indicated by the shadowed area around it), just drag it with your finger in the allotted space. As I mentioned, the controls in the game are simple enough for everyone, but the puzzles themselves are still rather challenging.

While the game does not have stars or points, there is still Game Center support (if you can get it to work) for leaderboards and achievements. I think the replay value is a bit lacking, though, as there is not much reason to go back and replay levels, unless you want to try out crazier solutions. Still, it’s a challenging puzzle game that is great for everyone, and there is full iCloud support so your progress goes wherever you go.

As a big fan of physics-based puzzle games, I’m loving Drop Flip so far. I’m still in the early stages of the game, but I’m enjoying every second of it. The simplistic visuals are gorgeous to look at on crisp Retina screens, and the tranquil and whimsical sounds are fun to listen to (best experienced with headphones). Controls are simple enough for everyone to understand, so there is no learning curve, and the puzzles themselves are fun and challenging at a gradual pace that is not frustrating. I think adding something like stars would increase the replay value in the future, but it’s not a big deal.

I highly recommend checking out Drop Flip if you’re a fan of minimalistic physics-based puzzle games. You can find Drop Flip on the App Store as a universal download for the iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

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